Ramdhan Lodha, a farmer’s son, has built a solar-powered weed-killing machine to aid small farmers like his father.

Hailing from Jhalawar, Rajasthan, the 18-year-old was pained by his father's injuries caused by carrying a heavy spray pump on his shoulder.

An interest in science and experimentation led to him tinkering with machines to find solutions to everyday problems.

Ramdhan’s machine is a multifaceted agricultural tool that significantly reduces physical strain on farmers and is eco-friendly. Moreover, it is customisable to meet different needs.

It is a modified cycle, with a battery, solar panel, spray pumps on both sides and a weed remover at the front.

The multi-tasking machine can perform four critical farming operations: cleaning weeds, drilling seeds, spraying fertiliser and laying manure. It runs on solar power and also has a battery for cloudy days.

The design incorporates easily adjustable parts and attachments that mimic the functionality of larger, more expensive farming machinery, making it an ideal solution for small-scale farmers.

“It can do all these different tasks at the same time, saving both time and energy. You can remove weeds and spray fertiliser at the same time. It eliminates the need to carry heavy spray tanks and hire labourers,” adds Ramdhan.

What’s praiseworthy is the fact that the teenager participated in different competitions to build this innovation over the past three years.

At 15, his initial sketch of the prototype earned him Rs 10,000 as prize money, which funded the creation of the first physical model.

Ramdhan also won Rs 1 lakh as prize money at the Indian Silicon Valley challenge, a nationwide competition hosted by the Scaler School of Technology.

He hopes to make his machine available to small-scale farmers across India.

“I want to make the lives of small farmers across the country less laborious and more profitable,” Ramdhan says.